Instrument for inscribing parallel lines

ABSTRACT

An instrument or implement for inscribing lines parallel to a straight or curved edge with desired spacing. A barrel part holds an inscribing point at one end. The inscribing point extends through a member having a curved outside surface, preferably round, that is parallel to the axis of the point and which provides for line contact with either a straight or curved edge so that a line can be drawn parallel to it spaced an amount which is a radius of the member. Members having different diameters are readily provided for purposes of inscribing the parallel lines at different spacings from the guiding edge.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,867,761

Abad Feb. 25, 1975 INSTRUMENT FOR INSCRIBING Primary Examiner-SamuelB. Rothberg PARALLEL LINES v Assistant Examiner'-John W. Shepperd [76] Inventor: Bill A. Abad, 1423 N. Fuller Ave., Agent Walsh West Hollywood, Calif. 90046 [57] ABSTRACT 22 Filed: Aug. 10, 1973 An instrument or lmplement for mscribmg l1nes para]- PPl- 387,469 lel to a straight or curved edge with desired spacing. A barrel part holds an'inscribing point at one end. The {52 us. 01. 33/41 F ihscrihhg lhint extends hmugh a member having a [51] Int. Cl B43l 13/02 Curved outside surface preferably round that is pawl 58 Field of Search 33/41 42 43 44 the axis the and which Provides contact with either a straight or curved edge so that a line can be drawn arallel to it s aced an amount 56 R 1 Ct d P P 1 UNITEDe $323.2 LZ which is a radius of the member. Members having different diameters are readily provided for purposes of 2,212,703 8/1940 Suffich 33/1 B inscribing the parallel lines at different spacings from 2,514,003 7/l950 Martm 33/41 R the guiding edge 2,782,506 2/l957 Ingram 33/41 R 6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is an instrument or implement for inscribing lines parallel to either astraight or curved edgesA primary adaptation of the instrument is as a toolfor draftmen for drawing lines parallel to a straight edge or parallel to a curved edge, such as the edge of a French curve.

In one preferred exemplary form of the invention, it may simply take the form of a bushing or washer through which a point of a pencil extends. The bushing with the pencil point extending through it is placed against a straight or curved edge, and it guides movement of the pencil for drawing a parallel line parallel to the edge at a spacing corresponding to the radius of the bushing. The bushing means can be readily provided in various diameters so that lines at various spacings can be made. I

As may be seen, the invention provides a significant advantage in facilitating the drawing of parallel lines V without difficulty or complicated instrumentalities. Very great advantage derives from the invention in facilitating the drawing of curved lines, that is, parallel, curved lines parallel to a curved guiding edge. Templates for drawing curved lines are made in many different sizes or sets, such as for example many different sizes of ellipses, butnot in all sizes. Typically, the chip ses come in graduated sizes in the templates. To draw or construct an ellipse of a size between sizes available in the template is very difficult. In the herein invention,

this problem is overcome, and the making of ellipses of any size or producing any curves is facilitated merely by having means of the type referredto of desired diameters.

In the light of the foregoing, a primary object of the invention is to make available an instrument or implement as described whereby the making of parallel lines, either straight or curved at any desired spacing from a guided edge is facilitated.

A further object is to provide an instrument as described wherein there is provided a means having an inscribing point extending through it, the means having a curved surface, preferably round, which is parallel to the axis of the inscribing point and which has line contact with the straight or curved guiding edge for inscribing the parallel lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a preferred form of the invention and showing its utilization;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a form of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view illustrating the operation of the form of the invention of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another form of the invention; i

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention adapted for use with a draftmans chuck;

FIG. 8 is a view of another form of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a view partly in section of another form of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a view partly in sectionof another form of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a view of parallel curved lines made with the instrument of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of another form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, numeral 10 illustrates a typical flat plastic template or French curve, the outer edges of which are curved, and which has curved openings 12 and 14 in it. Numeral 16 designates a conventional pencil having a tapered pointed end 18 extended through the means of the invention which is shown as a bushing 20 having a bore of the size to receive the point of a pencil which extends through it to engage a surface. Bushing 20 is placed against a curved edge surface 24 of template [0 shown in FIG. 3. Pencil 16 is in an upright position shown in FIG. 2. Because of the bushing being round, its surface has only line contact with edge 24 as desig nated at 26. The pencil and bushing are moved along edge 24 which acts as a guide edge so that the pencil makes a parallel line, parallel to the edge spaced from it an amount which is the radius of bushing 20. Parallel lines may be drawn as shown in FIG. 10. Bushings may be provided of various diameters so that parallel lines can be accurately drawn with desired spacings from edge 24. Bushings. 20 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic, or otherwise. The bore in bushing 20 maybe tapered as shown in FIG. 2, or it may be cylindrical. When the lines are being drawn, the bushing can rotate around the point of the pencil which extends through it so that there is no sliding friction as between the bushing and guiding edge 24.

FIG. 4 shows another form of the invention wherein the guiding means is shown in the form of a bushing or washer 30 with a thin or narrow edge flange 32 which can be positioned underneath edge 24 of template 10 as shown to provide for positive positioning and guiding of the means 30.

FIG. 5 shows a form of the invention utilizing a typical ball point pen 36 having a point 38. The bushing has parts of two diameters as designated at 40 and 42. Part 42 is placed against edge 24 of template 10. The bushing has a cylindrical bore 44 which receives point 38 of the ball point pen. The operation is like that of the other embodiments.

FIG. 6 shows another form of the invention which is in the form of an integral barrel 50 having a bore 52 of a size to receive a lead 54 which extends through the circular end part of barrel 56 which is of smaller diameter and which is adapted to be placed against guiding edge 24 of template 10. Barrel 50 has an internal it and cause it to extend from the end of the barrel. The

lead may be pushed back into the bore 52 manually. The instrument is utilized like that of the previous embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows a form of the invention which comprises a means 70 having a lower circular bushing part 71, flange part 72, and an upper circular part 74 which is axially split as designated by numeral 76. Numeral 78 designates a typical draftmans chuck having extending jaw members 80 which by rotating themember can be caused to clamp on to the split end part 74 of unit 70.

It has a bore 82of a size to receive lead 84 as held in the bore by friction. Part 71 of unit 70 is' placed against guiding edge 24 for drawing parallel lines.

FIG. 8shows another form of the invention comprising a cylindrical body 86 with threaded bore 87, unthreaded bore 88, and extending skirt 89. Numeral 90 designates a threaded stem having bore 91 for lead 92. Stem 90 has end 93 of larger diameter. Collar members 94, 95, and 96 have skirts telescoped within each other and within skirt 89, part 93 being within skirt 96. Be-

tween adjacent skirt members are coil springs 97, 98, 99, and 100 seated at the ends in annula'r'spring retaining grooves.- The springs have progressively greater strength or compression in the upward direction. Numerals 101 and 102 designate knurled knobs, knob 101 having lead bore 103 and collet top 104 extending into bore 87. Knob 102 threads onto stem 90.

In operation when knobs 101 and 102 are twisted together, the lead is gripped by collet top 104, and stem 90 is jammed tight so the two knobs and stem turn together for extending or retracting the telescoped skirted sleeves one at a time by reason of the varying spring tensions. Thus, the instrument is used like previous embodiments for various spacings of lines.

FIG. 9 shows another form of the invention which is similar to that of FIG. 8. It comprises an outer barrel 100 in which are a plurality of telescoping cylinders or tubes 110, 111, 112, and 113. Tube 113 has a bore of a size to receive lead 114. Telescoping cylinders or tubes each have an opposite end, and these opposite ends are each of a different diameter than corresponding opposite ends, these ends identified by numerals 115, 116, 117, 118, and 119. Each one of the ends of the various telescoping tubes may be placed against the guiding edge 24 so that parallel lines may be drawn or inscribed, spacings corresponding to the number of different diameters provided at the ends of the telescoping tubes. In the form shown, the tubes frictionally engage each other and individual tubes may be manually extended with respect to other tubes for utilizing the end of that particular tube.

FIG. 10 shows a simplified form of the invention wherein writing instrument 124 with point 125 is formed with cylindrical end part 126 and provide the spacing for the parallel line.

FIG. 11 is a view of parallel curved lines which may be made with the instrument of the invention.

FIG. 12 shows another form of the invention embodied by way of member 130 having circular part 132 and threaded stem 134. Member 130 has an offset or eccentric circular part 136 which is the part that engages edge of item 10. Member 130 has a bore 138 which receives lead 140. Stem 134 is axially split as indicated at 142 and acts as a chuck to hold lead 140. Numeral 144 designates a cylindrical member having a threaded bore 146 which receives threaded stem 134.

In use, the instrument may be held in the hand with the circular eccentric part 136 in angular position to produce a parallel line at any desired angular spacing from the edge of member 10. Infinitely different spacings are achievable.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will readily understand the nature of the invention and the manner of its utilization, the preferred modes of practicing having been disclosed herein.

The foregoing disclosure in representative of pre ferred forms of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An instrument for inscribing on a surface a line which is uniformly spaced from either a straight or curved edge at a selected distance therefrom, comprising: a barrel part; an inscribing point projecting axially from one end of said barrel part and having a longitudinal axis, the instrument having means through which the inscribing point extends in a position so that said means engages the edge surface adjacent to which a parallel line is to be inscribed, said means having a curved surface parallel to said axis so that it has only line contact with said edge whereby said means can be guided along said edge,.whether straight or curved so as to inscribe. a line parallel to it, said barrel part comprising a plurality of telescoping tube parts which are relatively adjustable axially so that an end of a selected tube can be positioned to be guided by said edge.

2. An article as in claim 1, wherein said telescoping tubes each include means at opposite ends of relatively different diameter so that lines may be inscribed at spacings equal to twice the number of tubes.

3. An article as in claim 1, including adjusting means at one endof said barrel for causing any one of said telescoping tube parts to be individually, selectively extended therefrom.

4. An article as in claim 3, wherein said tube parts have biasing spring means between them.

5. An article as in claim 1, including an outer barrel part and a threaded stem rotatable thereby, and means providing engagement between the stem and the tube parts.

6. An instrument for inscribing on a surface a line which is uniformly spaced from either a straight or curved edge at a selected distance therefrom, comprising: a barrel part; an inscribing joint projecting axially from one end of said barrel part and having a longitudinal axis, the instrument having means through which the inscribing point extends in a position so that said means engages the edge surface adjacent to which a parallel line is to be inscribed, said means having a curved surface parallel to said axis so that it has only line contact with said edge whereby said means can be guided along said edge, whether straight or curved so as to inscribe a line parallel to it, and means comprising a fitting providing a holder for an inscribing point and having an extending stem adapted for engagement by the collet of a standard drafting instrument. 

1. An instrument for inscribing on a surface a line which is uniformly spaced from either a straight or curved edge at a selected distance therefrom, comprising: a barrel part; an inscribing point projecting axially from one end of said barrel part and having a longitudinal axis, the instrument having means through which the inscribing point extends in a position so that said means engages the edge surface adjacent to which a parallel line is to be inscribed, said means having a curved surface parallel to said axis so that it has only line contact with said edge whereby said means can be guided along said edge, whether straight or curved so aS to inscribe a line parallel to it, said barrel part comprising a plurality of telescoping tube parts which are relatively adjustable axially so that an end of a selected tube can be positioned to be guided by said edge.
 2. An article as in claim 1, wherein said telescoping tubes each include means at opposite ends of relatively different diameter so that lines may be inscribed at spacings equal to twice the number of tubes.
 3. An article as in claim 1, including adjusting means at one end of said barrel for causing any one of said telescoping tube parts to be individually, selectively extended therefrom.
 4. An article as in claim 3, wherein said tube parts have biasing spring means between them.
 5. An article as in claim 1, including an outer barrel part and a threaded stem rotatable thereby, and means providing engagement between the stem and the tube parts.
 6. An instrument for inscribing on a surface a line which is uniformly spaced from either a straight or curved edge at a selected distance therefrom, comprising: a barrel part; an inscribing joint projecting axially from one end of said barrel part and having a longitudinal axis, the instrument having means through which the inscribing point extends in a position so that said means engages the edge surface adjacent to which a parallel line is to be inscribed, said means having a curved surface parallel to said axis so that it has only line contact with said edge whereby said means can be guided along said edge, whether straight or curved so as to inscribe a line parallel to it, and means comprising a fitting providing a holder for an inscribing point and having an extending stem adapted for engagement by the collet of a standard drafting instrument. 